Wolfgang Van Halen reveals his decision to join the band was driven by a desire to support his father, even though he faced some challenging experiences from certain fans.
At the young age of 16, Wolfgang Van Halen had an extraordinary experience that likely surpasses what most people were doing at that age. He took the stage as the bassist with the reunited Van Halen, his father Eddie’s band, during their performance at the Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina in September 2007. Wolfgang describes this moment as being akin to “being fired out of a cannon.”
While he joined the band to support his dad, he had to face the discontent of certain sections of the band’s fanbase. Many fans were upset at the idea of him replacing the original Van Halen bassist, Michael Anthony. Dealing with this negative reaction was tough for Wolfgang, and he shares that he became the target of resentment from middle-aged men worldwide. This experience took a toll on him emotionally and mentally.
However, despite the initial challenges, Wolfgang now has a positive relationship with former bassist Michael Anthony. He describes their current connection as very cordial and expresses admiration for Anthony, stating that he is a wonderful person with whom he has good conversations.
Despite the challenges and pressure, Wolfgang Van Halen felt confident that he was prepared for the role. He acknowledges the intensity of the situation but emphasizes that he and the band had put in extensive rehearsal time, which allowed him to internalize the songs to the core. Fortunately, during the performances, most of the attention was directed towards Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth on the stage, giving Wolfgang the opportunity to play his part more comfortably and contribute to the music from a slightly more relaxed position.
